Tweet
One uncredited player recommends that [i]f you have started your first colony near one of the other powers (especially the Dutch), turn your first colonist into a statesman. The reasoning is two-fold: first, you acquire your first Founding Father quickly and second, you will reach the critical 50% Sons of Liberty number very quickly. As this same player notes, [t]his will immediately eliminate the weakest colonial power from the new world. Early in the game the odds are decent that you will eliminate the Dutch (assuming you're not playing them). Because of their economic advantage they are seldom the power to be eliminated if you wait until later to reach 50%. [..] [I]n any event you will now only have to deal with [two] rival powers rather than [three].
The order in which you work towards gaining the following Founder Fathers and in what order is open to much debate. One strategy offered is by the uncredited player first quoted above: Minuit, Cortez, De Soto, Franklin and Drake. His or her reasoning is simple: money. For more on why this is so, watch for his notes (highlighted in this colour) that appear in each of their entries.
The following is a list of all the Founding Fathers that can be in your Continental Congress. A short biographical sketch and summary of the effects of each is also included.
TRADE
Francisco de Coronado (1510-1554): A Spanish Conquistador, he led the first European expedition into the American southwest. He was the first “white man” to observe the Grand Canyon, and the Pueblos of New Mexico.
Coronado was a great and careful organizer and scout so when he joins your Congress, all colonies currently on the map are exposed, including the area immediately surrounding them.
Henry Hudson (????-1611): An English explorer in service of the Dutch, he explored the Chesapeake and Delaware Bays and the Hudson River as far north as Albany. Hudson later discovered Hudson Bay and was finally killed by mutineers. Hudson Bay became a primary fur trapping preserve, and the Hudson Bay Company operated extensive trapping and processing facilities for many years.
When Hudson joins your Continental Congress, the output of all fur trappers increases by 100%.
Sieur de La Salle (1643-1687): A French explorer, he sailed down the Mississippi River into the Gulf of Mexico, claiming all land drained by this mighty river for the French Crown. He was instrumental in establishing French dominance of the Canadian fur trade.
When La Salle is in your Congress, all new colonies automatically get a stockade when the population reaches 3.
Ferdinand Magellan (1480-1521): A Portuguese explorer, he was the first European to lead an expedition that successfully circumnavigated the globe. Although Magellan himself did not complete the voyage, his leadership and daring made it possible.
With Magellan in the Congress, the movement allowance of all naval vessels is increased by one, and the time it takes to sail from the west map edge to Europe is shortened considerably.
Hernando de Soto (1500-1542): Ruthless Spanish Conquistador who led the first European expedition into the Southeastern areas of North America. He landed in Florida and explored much of Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas. In search of gold, he is credited with the slaughter of thousands of Native Americans.
With De Soto in your Congress, the line of sight of all units increases to two squares, making all units able to see as well as scouts. [He e]nsures that all Lost City rumors are positive (only if you go investigate them with a Scout, though).
MILITARY
Hernan Cortes (1485-1547): Spanish conqueror of Mexico and destroyer of the Aztec empire, Cortes is the paradigm Conquistador: a master of conquest and plunder.
When Cortes joins your Congress, conquered native settlements always yield treasure — and more of it. [He] gets the [K]ing's galleons to transport for free (remember all those treasure trains you're going to get because you have De Soto?).
Francis Drake (1540-1596): England’s greatest seaman of the Elizabethan period, Drake was an incredibly formidable privateer who terrorized the Spanish Main with a fleet of fifteen ships, then rescued a floundering English colony.
When Drake joins the Congress, he increases the combat strengths of all your privateers by 50%. [He] gets you the 50% attack bonus for your Privateers (the only thing better than being able to buy 100 muskets is being able to steal them).
John Paul Jones (1747-1792): Dashing Scottish naval commander who served for the colonies during the War of Independence, he demonstrated his incredible abilities in several daring exploits in battle, sinking many British ships.
When Jones appears in the Congress, your colonial navy gains a frigate, without cost.
Paul Revere (1735-1818): American patriot who served in the Continental Army during the War of Independence, he roused the minutemen as British amphibious forces approached. Paul Revere’s example as a patriot allows colonists working at productive duties to become 'minutemen' capable of rallying to the defense of the colony in times of need.
Once Revere joins your Congress, a colony with no standing militia that is attacked will have a colonist automatically take up any muskets stockpiled in the colony in defense. The colony is still conquered if the colonist loses the combat, however.
George Washington (1732-1799): Commander of American Revolutionary forces and first President of the United States, George Washington displayed a remarkable ability to train and inspire colonial forces to victory.
Once Washington joins the Continental Congress, every non-veteran soldier or dragoon who wins a combat is upgraded in status.
POLITICAL
Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790): Colonial and later US Statesman, Franklin became the first postmaster, printer, and foreign ambassador in the English colonies. He was also one of the first great American scientists. Franklin, as ambassador to Europe in the Continental Congress, brings coherence to the colonies' relations with foreign powers.
When Franklin joins your Congress, the King's European Wars have no further effect on the relations between powers in the New World, and the costs of negotiating with other powers is decreased. Also, all Europeans now offer peace to you, though at some cost. It becomes your choice to go to war... [He e]nsures that you'll get a peace treaty without any conditions.
Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826): Great US statesman, framer of the Constitution, and third President, Jefferson's ideas promoted the development of democratic institutions within Colonial America.
Jefferson's presence in the Congress increases Liberty Bell production of statesmen by 50%.
Thomas Paine (1737-1809): An Englishman who migrated to Philadelphia, Paine wrote the important, inflammatory pamphlet "Common Sense", which strongly advocated total independence for the colonies. He later wrote "The Rights of Man" in favor of the French Revolution, and finally "The Age of Reason".
When Paine comes to the Continental Congress, Liberty Bell production in all colonies is increased by the current tax rate.
Pocahontas (1595-1617): Powhattan native princess who mediated tensions between the English colony at Jamestown and the Powhattan Confederacy of Virginia, Pocahontas married John Rolffe, an Englishman, which led to a period of peace between the Indians and the English.
When Pocahontas joins the Congress, all tension levels between you and the natives are reduced to content, and from this time forward all native alarm is generated only one half as fast.
Simon Bolivar (1783-1830): He organized and, in large part, conducted the rebellions in a vast area of northern South America, liberating current-day Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia.
When Bolivar is in the Congress, Sons of Liberty membership in all your colonies is increased by 20%.
RELIGIOUS
Father Jean de Brebeuf (1593-1649): A French Jesuit Missionary, he died at the hands of the Iroquois in Huron country (now Canada) in a battle between the Hurons and Iroquois. He translated the Catechism into the Huron language and was canonized in 1930.
With de Brebeuf in your Congress, all missionaries function as experts.
William Brewster (1567-1644): One of the Pilgrim Fathers and framers of the Mayflower Compact, William Brewster served as the first Pilgrim minister, and was instrumental in organizing the party that sailed on the Mayflower.
With Brewster in the Congress, you can select which of the three available immigrants in the recruitment pool is driven to the docks whenever religious unrest causes a immigrant to move from the recruitment pool to the docks . In addition, criminals and servants no longer appear on the docks to immigrate.
Bartolome de Las Casas (1474-1566): The “Apostle of the Indians,” Las Casas was a Spanish missionary who sailed with Columbus third expedition. His efforts to protect the native population from slavery and abuse led him to speak on their behalf in the Spanish courts on several occasions.
With Las Casas’ presence in the Congress, all currently existing native converts are assimilated into the colony as free colonists.
William Penn (1644-1718): An English Quaker leader, William Penn obtained a large land grant in North America for religious freedom. He founded the state that later became Pennsylvania.
With Penn in the Continental Congress, cross production in all colonies increases by 50%.
Juan de Sepulveda (1490-1573): Spanish philosopher and “humanist,” Sepulveda argued for harsh treatment of the natives. He based his reasoning on the proposition that natives were incapable of ruling themselves because of their savagery; the fact that they were unable to resist invasion by the Spanish proved it...
His presence in the Congress increases the chance that subjugated natives "convert" and join a colony.
TRADE
Jakob Fugger (1459-1525): Extremely successful German merchant active in early import and export business from the East Indies. Exceedingly rich, he loaned money to Emperor Maxmillian I of Germany.
When Fugger joins the Congress, he erases the Crown's memory of parties you've had protesting taxes. In other words, you no longer owe back taxes before you can resume trading goods.
Peter Minuit (1580-1639): Director-general of the Dutch West India Company's Colony in America, he bought the Island of Manhattan from the Indians for $24US.
Once Minuit joins your Continental Congress, you no longer have to buy land from the aboriginals. [He] keeps the [aboriginal]s from charging you for their territory.
Adam Smith (1723-1790): British economist who published the first major work of political economy "An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations", which was a detailed examination of the consequences of economic freedom.
Smith’s presence in the Congress allows factory level buildings to be built in the colonies. Factories allow the production of 1 1/2 units of manufactured goods for each unit of raw materials processed.
Peter Stuyvesant (1610-1672): First successful Governor of the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam (New York), he ruled harshly, and promotes increased trade and increased protection of New World interests.
As part of your Congress, Stuyvesant allows construction of the custom house in your colonies which can streamline trade with Europe.
Jan de Witt (1625-1672): Dutch statesmen, Chief Minister of the United Provinces of the Netherlands, he sought to abolish the office of the stadholder and to limit the power of the House of Orange, breaking their monopoly.
When de Witt joins your Congress, trade with foreign colonies (by ship or wagon train) is allowed. In addition, your Foreign Affairs report will now tell you information about your European rivals.
The four European powers available for play in Colonization are the ones that had the greatest and longest-lasting influence on the New World: England, France, Holland, and Spain. Says the game's developer/publisher MicroPROSE (MPS), 
Aside from the details of growing your economy and expanding your population, you also have to contend with other European colonists and with natives. The cultures that the European invasion of the Americas forced into contact couldn’t have been more different.
Regardless of what nationality you represent and how ‘independence minded’ you are, the bonds that bind you to your home country are strong and enduring. Your home country supplies you with people to populate the New World, ships to get them there, goods to trade with the aboriginals as well as muskets, tools, and other provisions that allow your colonies to exist in the early years. However, this relationship is not without price.